State unveils plan for Highway 395

About two dozen Carson Valley residents attended the unveiling of a Highway 395 corridor study up to 6 p.m.

Under consideration is the conversion of the highway to a freeway and construction of frontage roads from Highway 50 south to Muller Lane. In order to avoid serious traffic issues, the work would have to be done by 2030.

Interchanges at Jacks Valley Road, Johnson Lane, Genoa Lane and Muller would get traffic on and off the highway.

Retired Minden dairy farmer Andy Aldax said the proposal to have frontage roads along a limited access highway was important to him.

"They have to do something to handle all the traffic," he said. "They said they will take care of us with a frontage road."

Aldax was philosophical about when improvements will be done.

"It will affect my kids," he said. "I don't think I'll be around to see them."

Indian Hills resident Chuck Hill said he would prefer an alternative route to Highway 395, something discussed in the corridor study but there are issues with both the plans discussed.

"They need to build a whole new road," he said. "There's nothing business owners like more than to have road construction in front of their businesses for three years."

North Valley resident Jack Bender said he has to use 395 to go to the Home Depot or the doctor.

He said compared to Southern California, the traffic here isn't too bad.

"Down there any time of the day or night, seven days a week it's bad," he said. "There isn't a Saturday or Sunday any more, it's constant."

Nevada Traffic Engineer Coy Peacock said the plan depends on the county's completion of its transportation plan, which includes finishing Muller Parkway.

He said that during the time frame of the study, there wasn't demand for an East Valley bypass that connects to the Carson City freeway near Edmonds Drive.

"There isn't enough traffic to justify building that bypass without a direct connection between the Gardnerville Ranchos and Highway 395."

Peacock said the study is a snapshot of information available now. He said the state will want to reexamine the information in the next year or two.